How much Gas is required for Atlantic crossing

[Delfini]

I am very aware that "lengths of string" are a distinct possibility in any reply, but I wonder if there is a general rule of thumb regarding how much gas should be carried to support feeding of 4 hefty blokes on an Atlantic (20 day) crossing using a 2 burner Plastimo cooker, grill and oven

I have purchased a thermal cooker which I hope will help minimise consumption but unsure if my standard 2 x 4.5kg bottles will be enough or whether to carry a spare

I have read that each kg of butane produces 14kw of heat energy so each bottle could provide 63kw - total available with 2 x bottles = 126kw

Cooker specification is:
Hob burner heat input: 2 x 2kW - say 1 hour per day = 4kw
Oven heat input: 1.30kW - say 30 mins per day = 0.65kw
Grill heat input: 1.72kW - say 30 mins per day = 0.86kw

Total = 5.46 per day x 20 days = 109.2kw - and 2 bottles is enough

Does the above make sense ?

Thanks for any empirical result/s or general guidance

 

[snowleopard]

We carry 2x13 kg propane and found that 2 bottles lasted us the 2 months it took to get to the Canaries, for cooking and water heating. Our crossing took 15 days, about 1/2 bottle.

 

[Roberto]

We use about 1 camping gaz (3.5kg) in two weeks, 2 adults + kids, hot meals both for lunch and dinner, boiled water for coffee and tea 3-4 times a day, though no baking (or very very occasional).

 

[tcm]

Surely take the spare - saves thinking about finding the stuff when you arrive. Really depends on if you all avoid cooking (not much gas) or enjoy baking things (much more) ...

 

[[70521]]

I'd either get bigger bottles or take an extra or two, just in case the trip lasts 34 days.

 

[RobbieW]

Similar ballpark to Roberto; 2 people, tea/coffee through the day, hot supper, occasional baking - a 907, 2.7Kg, last around 15 days

 

[Minchsailor]

I find a 4.5Kg butane lasts 14-21 days depending on number of people (4 to 1) and the amount the oven is used - not often when under way (use a pressure cooker).

 

[Woodlouse]

Last time I crossed we took three 4.5kg camping gaz bottles. Definitely didn't need the third but it was nice to have the insurance.

 

[Seven Spades]

We recon 1 bottle lasts about 14 days including baking bread, but that is for a family of three not sailing and brewing 24 hours. I would agree, take at least one extra bottle.

 

[capnsensible]

From personal experience, topped off in the Canaries, 2 4.5 kg will be plenty, even if you do some baking.

Also from personal experience, take a spare regulator!

 

[KellysEye]

We had a 15kg cylinder and 8kg backup worked fine, 15kg was fine over the Atlantic.

 

[Mistroma]

Last time I crossed we took three 4.5kg camping gaz bottles. Definitely didn't need the third but it was nice to have the insurance.

I thought that the R907 was the largest camping gaz cylinder and it only holds 2.75 kg Butane. One holding 4.5kg would be handy if it was actually available anywhere. We changed from 4.5kg Calor to 2.75kg camping gaz cylinders just prior to leaving UK.

 

[Woodlouse]

I thought that the R907 was the largest camping gaz cylinder and it only holds 2.75 kg Butane. One holding 4.5kg would be handy if it was actually available anywhere. We changed from 4.5kg Calor to 2.75kg camping gaz cylinders just prior to leaving UK.

You are right. 2.75kg it was.

I second the spare regulator too. Not had one go bad offshore, but had to change enough to know it can easily happen.

 

[capnsensible]

I thought that the R907 was the largest camping gaz cylinder and it only holds 2.75 kg Butane. One holding 4.5kg would be handy if it was actually available anywhere. We changed from 4.5kg Calor to 2.75kg camping gaz cylinders just prior to leaving UK.

We got two 4,5 kg on the boat we have lived on for 18 years. Never had a problem filling them in mainland Spain, Canaries or lots of Carib islands.

Cooking on board a lot where we are now, Gibraltar, one lasts about 5 months. Cruising, about 3 months.

Haven't ever run out of gas on transatlantics on various yachts (10), but remember that regulator! Was delivering a yacht from Gib to Antigua. Couple of days out of the Canaries, had one develop a leak that was only noticed when the bottle ran out. Fortunately had an extra 907 and a new regulator. Lesson learned.........

 

[Toutvabien]

Last time I crossed we took three 4.5kg camping gaz bottles. Definitely didn't need the third but it was nice to have the insurance.

+1 but we did start on the third, as one was only about half full when we left. We came across a French boat a day out from Martinique that had run out of gaz and were warming up their food on the engine. They were very aware that it undermined the French reputation as gourmets.

 

[pyrojames]

We had three 4.5 butane cylinders for an Atlantic circuit. No problems filling in the Caribbean, but did in the US. We bought a local cylinder there and transferred its contents to ours with some jiggery-pokery.

We started the third 4.5 after 23 days at sea, with 6 on board, but we had been using the first for a few days before left Lisbon. A 4.5 cylinder probably lasted us about 2 weeks.

 

[LadyInBed]

You will use less if half the crew spend half the time being sick!

 

[pyrojames]

You will use less if half the crew spend half the time being sick!

On the return passage the sea sick crew seemed to survive on lemon and ginger tea, so I am not sure that works!

 

[Egbod]

Last year some gas bottles had to be returned to gas company as they "didn't work". They somehow had the wrong gas in them. If you are going long distance it would pay to test each cylinders gas will actually work / burn before you go.

 

[Gilligan]

Great question and good info -- thanks all.